The Union for the Kansas City Fire Department says they are already short 60 firefighters. Cutting 4.5% of the department budget would mean close to $9 million. That would have dangerous impacts on public safety. “I believe that fire department cuts and public safety cuts should be the last to be made,” to International Association of Firefighters local 42 President Tim Dupin said. Dupin says the cuts the department is being asked to consider would mean laying off at least 142 firefighters and closing three to seven fire stations. “The mission of the fire department is to be anywhere within four to six minutes. That would definitely slow that response. We believe we are understaffed now. We have a shortage of 60 firefighters right now and any further cuts would be detrimental to the mission of the department,” Dupin said.